Expert: Ernest Tufft - 6/20/2008

Question
Hello Ernest
Hope you can give me good pieces of advice. I am travelling alone (30 year girl) to SF, from August 11 to 19, and my idea is to visit Yosemite, Grand Cannyon, and as I have a friend in Berckely I need 2 days to visit her. What would be the best route for me, considering I have a limited budget. Thanks in advance!!

Answer
Sorry for the belated reply Luci.  Don't worry about safety in San Francisco or the other places you visit, as these are very safe places by comparison with the rest of the USA.  You will love walking and riding the public transport in San Francisco, and you will find BART the easiest way to visit your friend.  If you rent a car, get that in Berkeley, not San Francisco to save money.  It's also possible to take a tour bus to Yosemite, and your friend can help you find out about this.  The Grand Canyon is much further away, and so I need more information from you to help you plan this trip.  My own recommendation, given your time, is to skip the Grand Canyon, and spend more time in the Bay Area and Yosemite.  Consider a trip with your friend to Santa Cruz or Monterey/Carmel in the Monterey Bay area, or to Napa Valley (but the latter will cost more in terms of food and wine).  Good luck...